Loose Ends

 Today has been the day to clean up all the loose ends involved with moving.  So, here’s the thing – the most annoying thing about moving is NOT

• Packing all your worldly good into boxes
• Finding strong bodies to help with the move
• Unpacking all said goods once moved
• Having half your world still in boxes in storage
• Trying to deal with cats, plants, weeds, and other growing things
• NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING

(although that last is probably the second most annoying thing).  In this day of modern technology, where 99.999999999% of the time you’re talking with a computer, trying to change your address gets the number one position of Most Annoying.  I have experienced all of the following -

 

just today.

None of the banking institutions like my new address.  All of them say – the post office may not deliver there.  Give us a different address.  I try telling them - Yes it does.  I have talked to the local postmaster several times (we are on first name basis now).  The new address is in the system.  And, I am getting mail here. Aaaaarrrrggghhhhh! 

 My natural gas company doesn’t have any humans that work near a phone, I’ve decided.  Not only do they not like the address via internet, they NEVER ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE.

 Have you ever tried to call Social Security????  FORTY-FIVE MINUTES on hold – 45. 

 Honest-to-god, I’m having chest pains from all the aggravation.  Okay, okay, breath in - - - - breath out.

 

Not working so I tried this

 

All better now. 

 I’m sure you’re wondering just how the Demon Duo are handling the move. 

 Not so well at first, but better now.

 First of all, they didn’t like my putting things into boxes and tried to get into every single packed box.  Then, they really didn’t like someone coming into their house and taking all the furniture away.  And finally, the day of doom - move the Demon Duo arrived.  And, they really didn’t like that.

 Their move day – it rained.  Not a drippy rain, not drizzly, not a light refreshing rain but a pouring down as hard as possible rain.  As soon as the rain stopped and I could see blue sky, I shoved each boy into a carrier, popped them in the car and headed to the new house which is about 5 minutes from the old house.  Just five minutes.  About half way there, it started pouring rain again.  And, it continued pouring rain.  So, got there and oh-what-the-hell, tried 

1.   Getting out of the car and closing the door with an umbrella
2.   Getting one carrier out of the car and somewhat under the umbrella without flooding the inside of the car.
3.   Slogging through the mud to the stairs. 

 Then the wind picked up and turned the umbrella wrong way out.  FINE!  Dropped the umbrella and hauled one carrier up the stairs, went back for the second carrier.  And, since I was already soaked to the skin, brought up everything else in the car. 

 The boys were not happy.  They don’t like the carriers.  They don’t like the car.  And, they really didn’t like going from the hated car in the hated carriers into the pouring down rain.  Both ran out of the carriers and hid for 24 hours.

 Now, they’ve settled down a bit and have even gone outside some (more about that at a later time).  Couple nights ago I saw something flash by me and heard a thump and looked up saw. 

 

I don’t know.

Daryl has taken to hiding when he is in trouble, mad, or someone new comes to the house. 

 

Here he has pulled a couple of books off the bookshelf and climbed behind the remaining books on the shelf.  Nope, not coming out.

 I have fished them both out of every cabinet, drawer or open thing in the house – several times.  

Daryl has decided he needs to be in the shower with me and just opens the sliding door and waits for me to shut off the water.  Then he plays in the shower for a while. 

 Guess that’s about all.  The old house is on the market and has been shown a couple times.  Fingers crossed everyone.  My son-in-law sent me this picture of a place for sale in Albuquerque.  His suggestion was – maybe bbq since it’s Texas.

 

 8 Oct 2020

Pun:

 

(ˈpən) the usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound

 I have a long time friend that experienced a day of really bad puns not too long ago.  So, I copied one to share –

 

A Girl Potato and Boy Potato had eyes for each other,

 

and finally they got married, and had a little sweet potato, which they called 'Yam'.

 

Of course, they wanted the best for Yam. When it was time, they told her about the facts of life. They warned her about going out and getting half-baked, so she wouldn't get accidentally mashed, and get a bad name for herself like 'Hot Potato,' and end up with a bunch of Tater Tots. Yam said not to worry, no Spud would get her into the sack and make a rotten potato out of her!

 But on the other hand, she wouldn't stay home and become a Couch Potato either. She would get plenty of exercise so as not to be skinny like her Shoestring Cousins. When she went off to Europe, Mr. and Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for the hard-boiled guys from Ireland. And the greasy guys from France called the French Fries. And when she went out West, to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get scalloped. Yam said she would stay on the straight and narrow and wouldn't associate with those high class Yukon Golds, or the ones from the other side of the tracks who advertise their trade on all the trucks that say, 'Frito Lay.'

 

Mr. and Mrs. Potato sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (that's Potato University) so that when she graduated, she'd really be in the Chips. But in spite of all they did for her, one-day Yam came home and announced she was going to marry Tom Brokaw.

 

Tom Brokaw!

 

Mr. and Mrs. Potato were very upset.

 

They told Yam she couldn't possibly marry Tom Brokaw

 

Because he's just......

 

Are you ready for this?

 

 

Are you sure?

OK!

 

 

Here it is!

A COMMONTATER

 

And, that’s all I got for today!

 

1 Oct 2020

Moving – Three

 

And, this will be the last installment on moving as I’m sure you are as tired of it as I am by now.  I shall start with this bit of practical information – Swearing (and possibly stomping, jumping up and down, and/or screaming) is a necessary thing otherwise you’re likely to run screaming down the street with the guys in the white jackets and nets chasing you.

 So – what’s next after the packing? 

 

One bright HOT Saturday morning my daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, niece, nephew all showed up at my house

 

aaaand we moved stuff.

 

They got all the heavy furniture moved into the new house and placed more-or-less where it would stay.

 Then, I spent a couple weeks moving boxes

 

Unpacking boxes

 

Trying to find places for things that came out of boxes

 

Then, my other daughter came out to spend her vacation (working her patootie off) with me.

 

We moved plants, yard art, windchimes cleaned out the shed, picked up the last few boxes

 

Four – 4 – f-o-u-r truck loads of plants!  Four jam-packed full truckloads of plants!  (I think, perhaps, I was a bit over-zealous with plants)

 We hung pictures, art work, found places for stuff, organized closets and generally made the new house look like I live here.

 We also did some cleaning, patching, painting at the old house.  And, after she left, I continued to patch/paint/clean.

 

Finally I started on the yards.  No fewer than four large branches fell just before and during the storm warning.  Those had to be cut up and stacked for heavy trash.  Picked up a bazillion downed small branches, pulled weeds (dug up a couple more plants) and generally made the yard presentable.

 

If you want to see the house, it’s here –

 https://matrix.harmls.com/DE.asp?ID=DE-53635957281&eml=cGFtLmMubmFzaEBnbWFpbC5jb20=

 

Now, I feel like this –

 

so I’m taking a couple days off to relax and renew.

 27 Sep 2020

Moving – Two

 So, everyone knows what happens after you make the decision to move, decide on the where to move, decide on the what to move into.  Next is to start going through closets, cabinets, drawers, tubs, and boxes in order to determine what all you have to move.

 

This is not something I like to do.  Why?  Well, never fails, as soon as you discard something, you need it – right that minute.  Also, I’m a bit of a pack rat and only the gods knew what all was in the above-mentioned closets, drawers, etc.  Yes, there were some tubs that I had absolutely no idea what was really in them (hadn’t looked in them for nearly 10 years) BUT probably things I wanted/needed.

 However, knowing I was downsizing, I valiantly moved forward to going through things.  For instance, over the years of many sets of glasses, I had managed to accumulate 15 small juice glasses.  I never use small juice glasses.  I don’t even know why the makers of glassware actually make them anymore.  Okay – keep four, give up 11 (you never know when you MIGHT need one or four).  Good start!

 And, so it went and ultimately, I had a stack of 3 or 4 tubs sorta filled up and stacked in the garage.  Good for me!

 Then my oldest daughter arrived at my house for a week.

 

It was scary.  We went through the house – every closet, drawer, bookcase, cabinet, those boxes I had not gotten into for 10 years - everything and on everything the questions

 

What is this?

When did you last see it?

When did you last use it?

 were asked.  No answer – into a ‘NO’ tub.  In one week we got more done than I had managed to do in the previous couple of weeks.  When all was said and done, there were 12 tubs filled full and stacked in the garage for a future sale.  And, I’m sure I still need some of that stuff but …….

 After she left, I did start packing things into boxes.  A tiring process and something I do not enjoy.

 Then my youngest daughter and grandson came out.

 

She sat and packed boxes while grandson and I took heavy and/or awkward things off the walls.

 And, when they left, my house looked like I didn’t live there anymore.

 And lastly, my sister came over and

 

when she left, it really didn’t look like I lived there.

 Meanwhile – the new house got delivered, tied down, the septic system was installed, plumbing to the house was done, electricity was installed and all of it happened more quickly than anyone expected.

 You know what came next – right?  Actually moving furniture.

 Next = Moving – Three

 

23 Sep 2020

Side Bar

 

So just a quick side bar.  For any that might have heard, our area is under a Tropical Storm Warning.  This means the storm just off the Texas coast is coming our way.  Oh goodie.

 According to John Bacon and Meagan Falcon of USA TODAY, Tropical Storm Beta “becomes the latest in a long line of storms this hurricane season forecast to batter the region and the record books.  Beta already has made history as the 23rd-named tropical storm in the Atlantic, replacing Alpha, nearly 15 years ago. Alpha, which formed on Oct. 22, 2005, was the first-ever storm to be assigned a Greek letter. (that means the namers of storms ran out of letters to use for names – ugh)  Beta, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, was about 140 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, Sunday afternoon. It was expected to make landfall Monday or early Tuesday between Corpus Christi and Galveston.”

 Here in Wharton, we are about 40 miles inland from the coast at Matagorda, which is right between Corpus Christi and Galveston.  Oh goodie again.  We are expecting wind and rain.

 

I spent a couple hours last night moving all my potted plants, yard art, umbrellas, and anything else I thought would be eligible as a projectile, to some place I hope will be secure (tight up against the house on the north side).

 Rain started about 2pm here and probably won’t stop until Tuesday.  Oh goodie, goodie, gumdrops.

 Not to worry though, in the greater of scheme of storms, this is just a baby.  Still, all is well.  The new house is securely tied down.  I told the old house to “hunker down and hold on”.  And, I told all the pecan trees to hold onto their damn branches!

 20 Sep 2020

Moving – One

 

Okay – I shall say this just to start off – I HATE TO MOVE! 

 

 The decision to move was one I’ve known for a while I’d have to make and make sooner rather than later for a lot of boring reasons.  But, one of the top five reasons – trying to take care of that very large yard filled with pecan trees that insisted on dropping huge branches regularly and filled with grass that insisted on being mowed weekly and living in SW Texas where it is summer for 70% of the year, therefore making the yard-work season veeery looong and having an older house that insisted on having regular problems/repairs dealt with – just got to be too much for me to handle alone, specially as I get older.  Whew!

 Next part of the decision was WHERE to move.  I have children in New Mexico, Virginia, and here in the greater Houston area.  Unfortunately, all three have, themselves, thoughts of moving within the next five years.  Ugh.  

 I thought about living where my heart is – close to the Gulf. 

 

 Where is the question.  The TX Gulf is 600 miles long.  Positive - there are many lovely places.  Negative - I’d be alone.  I don’t do well alone.  And, there are those pesky storms. 

 I thought about living places close to good friends or grandchildren. 

 

 San Antonio, TX – 7th largest city in the US, and 2nd largest in Texas.  Positive -two grandchildren there –   Negative – both of whom are still deciding what/where they want to be when they grow up, difficult living options, very big city.

 

 Austin, TX – capital and the 11^th largest city in the US and 4^th largest in Texas.  Positive – I have a long-time friend living there.  Negative – living options are very difficult, very expensive, big city.

 I thought about living in what – apartment? condo? rental?  I didn’t really want to buy another house.  Unless I could find a 55+ Apartment Complex, two grandchildren discouraged me from apartment living because (1) in my 70+ years I’ve only lived in an apartment for maybe 2 years (maybe not quite that long), when I was considerably younger and a lot more flexible, (2) I have the Demon Duo, and (3) a house full of furniture; a yard full of plants.  Aarrghhh!

My sister suggested another option.  She owns a large property across from her house and would put a home on it for me.  We had several discussions about that.  I talked it over with my children.  I agonized on the decision.  Honest-to-god, my cardiologist decided to increase my heart meds during this time.

 Finally – decision made.  Ellen and I would work together to put a house on her property.  So, we started house shopping and here it is today -

 

 A work in progress.

 Next – Moving – Two – Packing and Making More Decisions

19 Sept 2020

I think (maybe, possibly, could be) I’m back!

 So, before I talk about THE MOVE FROM HELL, I’m going to ease back in with something else.  Never fear, you’ll probably be tired of hearing about THE MOVE FROM HELL, before all is said and done.

 September!  Yay!  It’s September!  The first day of Autumn is September 22.  It’s going to cool down – somewhere – it’s going to cool down somewhere not here.  Okay, it’s cooling down here too – from 95° to 89°.  Of course, with 80% humidity, it will likely feel like 107°.  This is better than 869°, which is what it’s felt like since June. 

 The leaves magically change to beautiful colors . . .

 

Somewhere not here.  Here the leaves turn brown.  Has to do with the type of tree and the amount of cold in Autumn (yeah, we don’t get much of that in September – cold).

 

 But, that’s ok because here I can walk barefoot along the beach in September and October and probably November!

 

 Here’s an odd fact - Spring, Summer, and Winter all only have one name.  However, the third season has two – Autumn and Fall.  And once upon a time it had another – ‘Haerfest”.  Haerfest, which (used in the 12^th and 13^th centuries) means the act of taking in crops, eventually became called Harvest season.  So, I guess that makes four names.  Most of our crops have long since been harvested here but you know it is September when the cotton fields look like this –

 

 And then, like this –

 

 What else is happening in September, you ask.  Well, it’s

 Bourbon Heritage Month

   An observance in the United States that calls for celebration of bourbon as America's "Native Spirit".  Well, whatever floats you along – I’ll pass, thank you.

 

 Happy Healthy Cat Month

   Pretty sure the Demon Duo fit into that category of happy, healthy.

 

 World Beach Month

   An annual global awareness celebration to remind everyone around the world the importance, beauty and enjoyment the beach brings.  See above!

 Hummingbird Celebration Week

   This is the month those little Hummers start their long migration across the Gulf of Mexico to their winter home in Mexico and South America.  They travel nearly 4000 miles.  It’s a good time to set out your feeders.

 

 And, finally, today is

 Time's Up Day

   Time's Up Day is a day to let you know that if you've been waiting to make up with someone close to you, that you've officially run out of time and it's time to make amends. Life's too short to be on bad terms with those you care about.  Think you have days, months or years to reach out?  Forget it – you’re not even guaranteed a tomorrow!

 

 17 September 2020